Posted in 2019

Are you burdens light? ©️vcl

True story: While grocery shopping the clerks always asked if they could help me carry my groceries. When I was younger I felt quite offended. In fact one time I responded with a terse “I’ll let you know when I need help” as I picked up my 40 bags and struggled to the car. By the time I dragged them home I had broken out into a cold sweat. My husband offered to help, but I waved him away intent on proving that things were lighter than they looked.

Sometimes we are unwilling to let someone help make our burdens “light”. We would rather struggle along self righteously or indignantly wearing ourselves out, perhaps not wanting to be seen as weak… ignoring the help that is offered. How silly it seems now.

Posted in 2019

The praises. vcl ©️

My days seem to speed by. I guiltily carve out some writing time this evening.  Actually it’s all been a bit wispy snowy and foggy lately.  As the denseness evaporates, the trees have acquired a white frosty attire that makes me think that Christmas is just around the corner again…lol.   I am a busy property manager, and found myself out and about with my husband Ken, (my maintenance manager) earlier than usual, surveying my “Kingdom” as I jokingly tell my staff. Snow blankets everything.
It actually wasn’t that cold. Walking along, hearing the crunch of my boots in the morning air was a comforting sound. I was reminded of the words of Maya Angelou, “Still, like air I rise”, as we strolled along catching a glimpse of our site bunny sitting as still as a statue against the fence begging us to ignore him.  We eyed him back, looking to see if there is any change in the colour of his fur which indicates the soon arrival of spring. You don’t need a groundhog when you have a site bunny. 😁.       How quickly that would bring a smile to Ken’s face as he “strongly dislikes” snow and cold. Perhaps soon he will be rewarded. The new month of February is coming…Praise God.  The groundhog awaits !😬 Here is an Elfjie ❤️ Shaped like a tree. Go well today friends. It’s all about the praises. 

Trees

dressed finely

Celebrate their Creator

Every day they whisper

Praises

Vcl©️

Posted in Uncategorized

Curiosity~ vcl

My little brother 
Drowned the cat
In my mother’s wash bucket
That’s a fact.

A kitten actually,
To see, he later said
If it would go to heaven
With God -then it wouldn’t be
Really dead.

Mother breathed
Into its nostrils
A panicked breath of life
That sudsy cat came back.

Scratching and biting
Hissing and snarling
We all agreed
That in his fright,

He had not
Seen God, or
What he had seen 
Did not convince him to stay
Much to our delight.

Our kitty looked like this 🤗

View original post

Posted in 2019

Curiosity~ vcl

My little brother 
Drowned the cat
In my mother’s wash bucket
That’s a fact.

A kitten actually,
To see, he later said
If it would go to heaven
With God -then it wouldn’t be
Really dead.

Mother breathed
Into its nostrils
A panicked breath of life
That sudsy cat came back.

Scratching and biting
Hissing and snarling
We all agreed
That in his fright,

He had not
Seen God, or
What he had seen 
Did not convince him to stay
Much to our delight.

Our kitty looked like this 🤗

Posted in 2019

Listening. vcl©️

Haha ok. I’m a lousy listener. My mom (there she is again, sorry mom) told me once that I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle when I was a child. I think I was the only one in kindergarten that was rapped across the knuckles by my teacher with the pointer and told to “sit down and shut up.” Less social souls would have curled up in a ball sucking their thumbs, not me. I always have a word in due and not so due season lol.

It’s hard to explain, because I get accused of not listening enough. Let me tell you a secret. I hear it all. the important stuff. Ok ok…perhaps my husband Kenneth would argue at this point but ask me…his favorite colour…RED, How he likes his toast. Charcoal…almost. See?

I love words, and conversation. I guess I learned it from my Father who loved a great debate and like myself, loved to read and be informed and discuss, discuss, discuss. I feel strongly about things. I take it to heart. It usually isn’t about who is right. Its the FUN of the conversation. and when people give me their words I fill up with answers. Everyone wants to tell you THEIR story. Rarely do they ask to hear yours.

“The world had a way of speaking to you if you let it; the trick was learning to hear.”

― Justin Cronin, The City of Mirrors

The Bible , a book I read often as a child and adult says something I think is very profound.

“Can two people walk together unless they be agreed.”

That means listening to the whole story. And agreeing to remain friends. Sometimes it means to agree to differ.

And that’s the word. Ciao friends, thanks for listening.

Val

Posted in 2019

Don’t pray for lesser things. ©️vcl

Because

Sometimes the heavens

Have ceased to hear me

I speak to the silent earth

I pray to the god of the lesser things

The god of everyday birds

Who offers nothing

Just sits on the edge of each new day

watches the unraveling of  life

In unexpected ways

Pecking on empty seeds

Idly observes  the demons

Wipes no tear stained cheeks

Lingers sullenly, consumed ,

Silently taunts my humanness

It’s not giving up really, just a bitter cup

Move along, there’s nothing to see here

Just a lesser god doing nothing

Except reminding me of my weaknesses

Daring me to give the heavens another chance.

 

photo : Ondrej Pakan